snakes in Santa Fe area (Albuquerque, Las Cruces: houses, tornadoes, earthquakes)

[doublea1269]

My wife and I are considering a relocation to the Santa Fe area or suburbs (we live near Boston), but I have a bit of an unusual problem: a fear of snakes that defies description! Here in the northeast, we only see the occasional little garter snake, maybe once every 2 or 3 years. Do residents of the Santa Fe area frequently find snakes on their property, particularly big ones or rattlers?

Also, having really only dealt with hurricanes (none in last 15 years or so) and snow, we haven't had much experience with tornadoes, earthquakes, etc. Any of those occur much in the Santa Fe suburbs?

[Julia2sf]

Perhaps it depends on where you live, but I can't recall ever seeing a snake or and I've lived in the area for 17 years. Perhaps they're more common in the desert areas of the state, but I think they're a rarity here.

Forest fires and flash floods are more of a concern than earthquakes or tornadoes. Here's an interactive map of natural disasters in the U.S. New Mexico only came up for those two.

USATODAY.com - The landscape of natural disasters

[designer]

My sister and her husband live on 5 acres in the eldorado area just outside
of santa fe and I never heard them say anything about snakes but I would
think the possibility does exist. It probably depends on how many cats or
dogs you have to keep them away. Also I don't think snakes like the higher
altitudes as much so they may not be that frequent in the santa fe area
but I live in southern NM and there are enough rattlesnakes for everybody
even though I have never seen one in town but others have. It's the rattlesnakes that you need to worry about. The others keep the little mice
and small rodents away.

[mmckenna]

My brother has lived all over NM, both rural and urban, and he says the only places he has seen snakes is when he is on horseback out on the plains. The likelihood of having a snake in your backyard is about the same as here, I would say. It's important however, to read up on what to do in the event you are remote and encounter a rattler. Don't let ophidiophobia keep you out of this great place! It would be like someone not moving to Massachusetts for fear of coyotes.

[mike0421]

In Las Cruces, we have a bunch of rattlesnakes in arroyos, and the scrub. However, we are at 3900 feet elevation. Santa Fe is 7000 feet. The altitude is too high and the weather too cold for snakes there to survive winter.

[Zoidberg]

Wouldn't say Santa Fe is snakeproof.. the mountains near Albuquerque have rattle and bull snakes and they are that high and cold.

Rule of thumb for NM snakes: If you hear a rattle, walk away. Pretty much everything else is harmless.

[WLUTZ]

For what it's worth snakes hibernate in winter. That's why you have snakes in Wyoming, Montana and Colorado.

Is there snakes around Sante Fe? Yes.

Will you ever see one? Probably not unless you really go looking for them.

[Steve-o]

Actually, snakes dont hibernate, they brumate.

But yes, unless you go looking for them, you probably wont see one. Theyre out and about while youre deep in sleep (in summer). If you go looking for them at night, odds are youll probably see one.

[bugman2]

I am also from Boston considering a move to Santa Fe and I was wondering about rattlesnakes. I know that rattlesnakes are a significant issue in Arizona especially in the Scottsdale hills. If you put out birdseed or otherwise attract birds, rodents and other snake prey, you run the risk of bringing the snakes to you. I found the other responses comforting. The housing prices are sure falling in Santa Fe. Good Luck

[Towanda]

Hi bugman.

We were in Santa Fe two weeks ago looking at houses. I didn't see much indication that the prices are falling ..... but the houses are on the market for a long time. I would think they will have to fall in the near future.